Getting Ready For Summer!

As the school year winds to a close it is time to plan the upcoming "vacation" months! Dinners on the grill (like the turkey burgers and asparagus you see in my picture), activities ordered thru the local Parks N Rec department, mapping out city wide garage sales (we are AVID bargain hunters, LOL), figuring out when we will hit the farmer's market and FREE concerts on the square. Add our own garage sales (one at Mom's and one at My house), a little Tupperware Business and a few fairs...toss in a trip to Branson and we are pretty well set on our calendar! It all winds down with our annual weekly trip to the cabin with my in-laws.

OK - anyone else but me tired just reading all of that? LOL!

We Do have our weeks planned so there is at least one "down" day a week to recoup our enthusiasm for the next activity. we also plan to use the pool on almost all sunny days - we have half a dozen swimsuits each!

It helps that my schedule is so flexible and dear hubby gets 4 weeks of vacation a year...we can map things out, he can ask for the time off and we are good to go!

Summer is a busy time, full of memory making and picture taking opportunities, that is whey it's so hard to organize a weekend crop. Everyone is out LIVING life instead of putting what already happened on a page.

Here is a little tip for asparagus:
Snap the hard ends off under cold water, then lay a few down and poke a wet skewer thru them at both the bottom and the top. It should look kind of like a "raft" when you are done. Lightly dust them with olive oil and sea salt then just pop on the grill! They turn easily, won't fall through the grates and slightly caramelize, which makes them SUPER yummy to eat! Just remember to take the skewers out before you eat
:)

Take a few minutes to look over YOUR family calendar...is it super empty? What can you add to it? Is it looking too full? Put some fun "down time" into it - maybe you could come over for a dip in our pool, LOL!

I can taste those floating margaritas now...yum!

I bit the bullet...

It'savailable now...I snagged the HSN deal last week and saved over $200 by getting the pictured "Deal of the Day" set (included free shipping...).

How can I rationalize this? I already have 40+ shape cartridges to add to the two that come with this package. I can save a TON of money on cakes over the next few years...the last cake I bought from the grocery store bakery was $24 and it was only a 9x13 size!

Sarah is having a puppy party for her birthday this year and a princess party the year after that...add in other family member parties, special celebrations and holidays, it is all good!

Besides decorating cupcakes and cakes -- I have been doing my homework: You can roll out cookie dough and flash freeze it, then cut. You can cut cold, sliced cheese. How about chocolate dipping Oreo "pops" and then decorating them? I see lots of fun things in my head and will share them with you as create them...I have a few things whipped up on Design Studio already, LOL!

If you want to learn more about this - check out YouTube...there is some great info from it's release at CHA and more.
:)

The Wedding...

My Mom got married for the third time today to an incredible guy! It was Jim's third time too -- like Mom he had one divorce and then lost a spouse.
A simple ceremony at Bethel Lutheran Church, great dinner at their favorite local restaurant and some fun with family and close friends. Can it get better than that?



Mom's longtime friend Joanne not only was the bridesmaid, but made the awesome cake! She stayed over a few days, helped make the flowers, table decorations and helped keep mom from going crazy as all of Jim's kids came from out of town for the event.




Ms Sarah was all set for a solo - she was going to sing "this little light of mine". It isn't a new song for her as she had sung it at the Christmas pageant just a few months ago. They lit the unity candle and cue Sarah...
She wouldn't sing, LOL!
Everyone was up in the sanctuary, around mom and Jim -- I think too many people, so close to her and so much taller than her really intimidated her. So we all sang the song and moved on. I will delightfully remind her of this when she is older.
;)



Joanne made a GORGEOUS cake! It was marble cake, simple butter cream frosting adorned with red roses. It tasted as good as it looked and was very moist.






It was a great day. I am so happy to see my Mom happy and with a guy who is just so darned sweet. She is such a special person and deserves nothing but the best - which I think she has gotten in Jim.
:)

Until next time...celebrate YOUR family! They are the best people you will ever know.
Blessings, Dannelle

Easter

It was a strange day - Andy was sick so he stayed home. I packed the food into coolers, loaded the car and left for church with Sarah. The coolers were to keep the food safe while we were in church. Right after, we headed to Grammie and Grumpy's and got the hams into the oven.

Soon it was time to pick up those that can't drive...everyone munched on appetizers while Mom and I were finishing things off in the kitchen. The table featured Sarah's centerpiece

We switched things up a little this year and had a few healthier choices -- Brussels sprouts, muffins, etc. Dessert was an angel food cake that I cut into 4 layers. In between the layers was a simple fruit salsa (apples, strawberries and kiwi), then I frosted with Cool Whip. I topped it with the last of the fruit salsa and garnished with a fresh strawberry.

We finished the dishes, got everyone home and relaxed -- it was a nice family day, but would have been nicer if Andy could have been with us! Good family and friends, good food, great church service, what more could I ask for?

Silly Things...

It's so fun having a little person in preschool and being the class Mom! For Saint Patrick's Day we made this special little card for all her classmates and teachers. These are green paper "fortune cookies"...pull the shamrock and the fortune reads: I am lucky to have you for a friend.

We are working on something fun for Easter...not for her classmates, as it is spring break, but for the grandparents.

I promise to share
:)